Tuscaloosa County to assist Ol’ Colony with $1.1 million in renovations

City of Tuscaloosa, University of Alabama also expected to give money

Emma Gray, Luke Wingo, and David Williams play golf at Ol’ Colony Golf Course on May 24. The Tuscaloosa County Commission is joining the University of Alabama in paying for upgrades to the golf course. The city of Tuscaloosa is also expected to approve giving money to the project.

Published: Monday, June 24, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, June 23, 2013 at 10:46 p.m.

The money makes up about one-third of the $1.1 million needed to renovate the golf course, including planting new greens.

The 7,041-yard course, built on 592 acres near Munny Sokol Park at a cost of $7 million in 2000, is home to the University of Alabama golf program, which has a practice facility there but does not host matches or tournaments.

The county’s money will be joined with $375,000 from UA and a proposed $375,000 from the city of Tuscaloosa, although Tuscaloosa has not formally approved the expenditure yet, said Becky Booker, director of public relations and marketing for the Tuscaloosa County Park and Recreation Authority. The expenditure is expected to be discussed by the council soon.

All 18 greens will be renovated, converted from the previous Dwarf Bermudagrass to MiniVerde Dwarf Bermudagrass. The process has already started, Booker said, because there was a limited amount of time when the greens could be renovated during the summer’s peak season for grass growth, she said. Some of the course’s sand-filled bunkers will also be improved, and the tee boxes will be extended to lengthen nine of the holes.

“I really think this is a good project for the whole community, it will really upgrade their facility,” said Commissioner Stan Acker, who made the proposal Wednesday. The expenditure was unanimously approved by the commission.

The course’s 18 holes and chipping and putting green closed on June 17 and will reopen after the work is completed on Sept. 1. Ol Colony’s pro shop and driving range will remain open.

Once the improvements are completed, the course will satisfy requirements of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and could enable the UA men’s and women’s golf teams to host tournaments, possibly including Southeastern Conference championships.

The Ol’ Colony improvements were originally part of a multi-year capital improvement plan for PARA, which manages the facility. The plan, however, has gone through several revisions.

Neither the city nor the county has agreed how the funding should be split.

In early May, the Tuscaloosa City Council voted to approve several projects that were considered completely “city funded” projects. Then, on May 29, the County Commission followed suit and approved a $4.3 million list of “county only” funded projects.

The Ol’ Colony renovation was important to approve because the golf course cannot wait, the grass had to be redone over the summer, Acker said.

“We had to consider timing,” Acker said.

But the city and county have not agreed on renovations at other PARA facilities, including those proposed at Sokol Park and Bowers Park.

Acker said he’s still hopeful that there will be some sort of agreement between the two governments as far as how to split the funding.

“Everyone has demonstrated good will and willingness to work together, and that is heartening to me,” Acker said. “We still have some points that we haven’t reached agreement on yet, but I hope we can get there.”

<p>TUSCALOOSA | The Tuscaloosa County Commission plans to give $375,000 toward the renovations of Ol' Colony Golf course. </p><p>The money makes up about one-third of the $1.1 million needed to renovate the golf course, including planting new greens.</p><p>The 7,041-yard course, built on 592 acres near Munny Sokol Park at a cost of $7 million in 2000, is home to the University of Alabama golf program, which has a practice facility there but does not host matches or tournaments.</p><p>The county's money will be joined with $375,000 from UA and a proposed $375,000 from the city of Tuscaloosa, although Tuscaloosa has not formally approved the expenditure yet, said Becky Booker, director of public relations and marketing for the Tuscaloosa County Park and Recreation Authority. The expenditure is expected to be discussed by the council soon. </p><p>All 18 greens will be renovated, converted from the previous Dwarf Bermudagrass to MiniVerde Dwarf Bermudagrass. The process has already started, Booker said, because there was a limited amount of time when the greens could be renovated during the summer's peak season for grass growth, she said. Some of the course's sand-filled bunkers will also be improved, and the tee boxes will be extended to lengthen nine of the holes.</p><p>“I really think this is a good project for the whole community, it will really upgrade their facility,” said Commissioner Stan Acker, who made the proposal Wednesday. The expenditure was unanimously approved by the commission. </p><p>The course's 18 holes and chipping and putting green closed on June 17 and will reopen after the work is completed on Sept. 1. Ol Colony's pro shop and driving range will remain open. </p><p>Once the improvements are completed, the course will satisfy requirements of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and could enable the UA men's and women's golf teams to host tournaments, possibly including Southeastern Conference championships.</p><p>The Ol' Colony improvements were originally part of a multi-year capital improvement plan for PARA, which manages the facility. The plan, however, has gone through several revisions. </p><p>Neither the city nor the county has agreed how the funding should be split.</p><p>In early May, the Tuscaloosa City Council voted to approve several projects that were considered completely “city funded” projects. Then, on May 29, the County Commission followed suit and approved a $4.3 million list of “county only” funded projects. </p><p>The Ol' Colony renovation was important to approve because the golf course cannot wait, the grass had to be redone over the summer, Acker said. </p><p>“We had to consider timing,” Acker said. </p><p>But the city and county have not agreed on renovations at other PARA facilities, including those proposed at Sokol Park and Bowers Park. </p><p>Acker said he's still hopeful that there will be some sort of agreement between the two governments as far as how to split the funding. </p><p>“Everyone has demonstrated good will and willingness to work together, and that is heartening to me,” Acker said. “We still have some points that we haven't reached agreement on yet, but I hope we can get there.”</p><p>Reach Lydia Seabol Avant at 205-722-0222 or lydia.seabolavant@tuscaloosanews.com.</p>